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HAINES CITY

Residents Upset Over Towings


Published: Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:06 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 16, 2008 at 6:06 a.m.
Haines City residents on Thursday night let city commissioners know just how unhappy they are with the recent enforcement of a city ordinance that allows for the towing of abandoned and junk vehicles and boats.

A series of speakers described what they called "scare tactics" and "intimidation" by code enforcement officials this week.

The city on Monday started cracking down on abandoned and junk vehicles under a 1986 city ordinance.

Residents with junk vehicles have the option to have the vehicle towed at no cost to them during the next two weeks.

If they do not they will be cited and must have the vehicle towed or brought into compliance within 10 days or the city will have the vehicle towed and the owner will have to make arrangements with the towing company.

Speakers told commissioners they had not known about the ordinance and were not given warning of its enforcement.

City commissioners agreed to hold a workshop on the issue, but did not set a date.


Comments

  1. ztobe1 says...
    May 16, 2008 7:59:49 am

    RE: Read the article to the poor these cars are a source of spare parts or other uses--to the well off they are a eye sore--many of these code enforcement laws are anti-poor,and effect minority nieghbors the most--so could be construed as anti poor and anti minority

  2. tatertot says...
    May 16, 2008 8:11:41 am

    They're more than an eyesore, z. They leak gas and oil and other nasty chemicals, breed rats and are an attractive nuisance to children who might be trapped inside them and die. Poverty is no excuse for being nasty. Clean the filthy mess up.

  3. ztobe1 says...
    May 16, 2008 8:20:10 am

    even new cars leak oil and other fuilds---and yes it is if you dont have the money to buy a new part!!--these laws are used against poor people to take their property if so desired!!

  4. executive1 says...
    May 16, 2008 9:18:24 am

    abandoned and junk vehicles

  5. ztobe1 says...
    May 16, 2008 12:16:25 pm

    foolish boy lol--if they are abandoned and junk was are people protesting???--because they are neither!!--they take away private property rights more and more because of attitudes like yours!!

  6. singledad says...
    May 17, 2008 3:05:21 am

    "IF" they actually concentrated on "abandoned and Junk" cars, I really wouldn't have a problem with it. "BUT", they have classified any vehicle that is in your yard, with out a valid tag, as an "abandoned and Junk" car.

    So, only those with a garage can "rebuild", or keep, a "Classic" vehicle. Poor people may not be able to repair a car immediately. Doesn't mean they won't, though.Spouse's vehicle stored while in Iraq? Keep it tagged or lose it! Great way to treat those serving our country?

    Sorry, these laws are NOT designed to "Keep the neighborhood clean"!

    I had to sell my last car at "junk" prices because I could not afford to insure and tag it! Nothing wrong with the car, itself!

  7. whosaidthat says...
    May 17, 2008 5:26:42 am

    Uhhhmmm, has anyone here been through the Oakland area of Haines City recently? Seriously, I am quite certain that there were no "classics" towed. Some of my fellow LEO's that work in Haines City tell me that the removal of these vehicles is absolutely a good thing. Some of these vehicles had been in yards for years, with grass growing in and around them, no tags, looking like a mini junk yard. I only wish the Ledger and Ms. Smith would do a more thorough job of reporting things like this. Why not ride around with the code enforcement guys the day they are doing the towing and get some photo's of the cars being hauled away so everyone could see what kind of vehicles were being towed and end the speculation. As for those that show up and complain to the commission, I wonder where they were during the previous community forums when this was discussed. I wonder if they read the newspaper and saw that there was a listing describing what was going to happen if they didn't come into compliance. I mean I understand it takes a fifth grade reading level so surely some folks could understand and pass it along. If you want to keep your neighborhood looking like a run down, across the tracks, bad part of town, then buy about 20 acres and move you and all your trashy friends out there and live how you wanna live. I would prefer that we all come together and try to empower the community with actions like this, community clean up days, bike rodeo's, bar b ques, etc.

  8. singledad says...
    May 17, 2008 7:49:35 am

    County Code enforcement would still be there! And, AGAIN, The type you describe is fine, BUT, it applies to ALL Non-Tagged vehicles, no matter HOW LONG, of short, it's been there, even in your driveway, or on your carport!!Non-tagged is the REAL violation, PERIOD!

    Buy Insurance and tag, and they can sit there for ever!

  9. trtsmb says...
    May 17, 2008 7:49:39 am

    The simple solution is remove the spare parts and get rid of the rest. You don't need the whole vehicle sitting there becoming a haven for rats, bugs and a danger to children.

  10. singledad says...
    May 17, 2008 7:52:01 am

    Buy Insurance and Tag, and it can sit there for ever! LEGALLY!

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